detect

1 of 2

verb

de·​tect di-ˈtekt 

dē-

detected; detecting; detects

transitive verb

1

: to discover the true character of

detecting drug smugglers

2

: to discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of

detect alcohol in the blood

Do I detect a note of sarcasm in your voice?

3

: demodulate

intransitive verb

: to work as a detective

detectability

di-ˌtek-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

dē-

noun

detectable

di-ˈtek-tə-bəl 

dē-

adjective

detectable

2 of 2

adjective

de·​tect·​able -əbəl 

: capable of being detected

detectability noun

Synonyms of detect

Verb

• find
• learn
• locate
• discover
• get

Examples of detect in a Sentence

Verb

The test is used to detect the presence of alcohol in the blood.

This type of cancer is difficult to detect in its early stages.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Between 60% and 70% of new Ebola cases are being detected among people who were not already being monitored as contacts, meaning health workers may only discover infections after patients become sick and have had opportunities to expose others. — ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026

Once a fire is detected, the spotters can quickly send its location, photographs and video to fire managers on the ground. — Brian Maass, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026

Meteorologists have also improved in their ability to detect and understand the storms that cause tornadoes, says Brett Borchardt, a senior meteorologist at Chicago’s National Weather Service. — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 14 Aug. 2026

The test examined how passive and active methods could work together to detect UUV targets. — Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 14 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Latin detectus, past participle of detegere to uncover, detect, from de- + tegere to cover — more at thatch

First Known Use

Verb

1574, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for detect

• affect
• aspect
• bedecked
• bisect
• collect
• connect
• correct
• deflect
• direct
• dissect
• effect
• eject

Kids Definition

detect

verb

de·​tect di-ˈtekt 

: to discover the nature, existence, presence, or fact of

detect the approach of an airplane

detectable

-ˈtek-tə-bəl 

adjective

detection

-ˈtek-shən

noun